About Ben
A native of Maine, Ben is a proud graduate of The University of Maine School of Performing Arts where he studied under the mentorship of Grammy Award-winning conductor and composer Lucas Richman. That training instilled in him a foundational belief he still carries: that a conductor’s most important job is to serve the music, the audience, and the people making it together.
His career has been shaped as much by institution-building as by performance. For eight seasons, Ben served as Music Supervisor at Maine State Music Theatre, where he worked to strengthen the department’s infrastructure and artistic identity. He continues to return to MSMT each season as Personnel Manager and Musician Contractor — a reflection of the long-term professional relationships he tends to build wherever he works.
Ben is currently serving in his seventh season as Music Supervisor and Resident Conductor at The Fulton Theatre, a LORT B regional theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. During that time, he has overseen substantial growth in the music department — expanding the musician roster, raising the musician scale, and improving working conditions across the board. He manages a departmental budget of nearly half a million dollars annually and has conducted more than fifty productions on The Fulton stage, including Kinky Boots, Ragtime in Concert, Disney’s Frozen, and Elf. He contributes significantly to the casting process and is actively involved in community engagement, donor programming, and the cultivation of relationships with partner organizations — work he sees as central to what a music department can and should do within a regional theatre.
Outside of his institutional roles, Ben is regularly sought out as an arranger, orchestrator, and guest conductor. In this capacity, he has appeared with the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the Bangor Symphony, the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, Encore Orchestra NJ, and the Toledo Symphony. One engagement that holds particular meaning was his collaboration with the Bangor Symphony on milihtαkʷat, a multimovement suite for orchestra and chorus by Wabanaki composer Jason Brown (Firefly) — a project that connected his Maine roots to some of the most artistically significant work of his career. A fourth movement of that suite has since been commissioned for performance with the Portland Symphony Orchestra.
This spring and summer, Ben will serve as Music Director for Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of Leonard Bernstein’s masterpiece West Side Story. He also appears regularly as a guest and consultant at educational institutions and regional theatres across the country, contributing to a field he feels genuinely fortunate to work in.
Ben remains committed to the full breadth of this work — as a performer, a collaborator, and someone who cares deeply about the health of the institutions and communities that live musical theatre depends upon.
About Ben
A native of Maine, Ben is a proud graduate of The University of Maine School of Performing Arts where he studied under the mentorship of Grammy Award-winning conductor and composer Lucas Richman. That training instilled in him a foundational belief he still carries: that a conductor’s most important job is to serve the music, the audience, and the people making it together.
His career has been shaped as much by institution-building as by performance. For eight seasons, Ben served as Music Supervisor at Maine State Music Theatre, where he worked to strengthen the department’s infrastructure and artistic identity. He continues to return to MSMT each season as Personnel Manager and Musician Contractor — a reflection of the long-term professional relationships he tends to build wherever he works.
Ben is currently serving in his seventh season as Music Supervisor and Resident Conductor at The Fulton Theatre, a LORT B regional theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. During that time, he has overseen substantial growth in the music department — expanding the musician roster, raising the musician scale, and improving working conditions across the board. He manages a departmental budget of nearly half a million dollars annually and has conducted more than fifty productions on The Fulton stage, including Kinky Boots, Ragtime in Concert, Disney’s Frozen, and Elf. He contributes significantly to the casting process and is actively involved in community engagement, donor programming, and the cultivation of relationships with partner organizations — work he sees as central to what a music department can and should do within a regional theatre.
Outside of his institutional roles, Ben is regularly sought out as an arranger, orchestrator, and guest conductor. In this capacity, he has appeared with the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the Bangor Symphony, the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, Encore Orchestra NJ, and the Toledo Symphony. One engagement that holds particular meaning was his collaboration with the Bangor Symphony on milihtαkʷat, a multimovement suite for orchestra and chorus by Wabanaki composer Jason Brown (Firefly) — a project that connected his Maine roots to some of the most artistically significant work of his career. A fourth movement of that suite has since been commissioned for performance with the Portland Symphony Orchestra.
This spring and summer, Ben will serve as Music Director for Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of Leonard Bernstein’s masterpiece West Side Story. He also appears regularly as a guest and consultant at educational institutions and regional theatres across the country, contributing to a field he feels genuinely fortunate to work in.
Ben remains committed to the full breadth of this work — as a performer, a collaborator, and someone who cares deeply about the health of the institutions and communities that live musical theatre depends upon.
Testimonials
“One of the things I love about working with Ben is that he comes to the project so very prepared. His musical direction is clear and he really understands the relationship between Conductor and actor.”
Blake Hammond
“Ben is one of the best musical directors I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He has a beautiful balance of striving for excellence while maintaining a low pressure environment. I’ve never felt safer in a conductor’s hands; the way he can respond to the humanity of an actor while steadily leading the orchestra is unparalleled.”
Kristina Leopold
“Ben is an exceptional collaborator: Kind, smart, and fun. He brings a finely tuned musical taste and instinct, and is full of creative storytelling ideas that help create a truly cohesive feel in any musical he’s working on, all while making singers and musicians feel safe and supported. He’s also a top-notch arranger and orchestrator making him an asset to any theatrical production, concert or musical event.”
Ben Fankhauser
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ben twice, and each experience has been exceptional. He has a true gift for elevating the sound of a show while fostering a fun, focused, and professional room. His artistry, leadership, and musical instincts make him someone I deeply trust–I always feel taken care of when he is conducting!”
Kennedy Caughell
“Ben has been one of the best music directors I’ve ever worked with. He’s organized, creative, and a brilliant collaborator. He knows how to talk to both actors and musicians and is skilled at creating a cohesive and spectacular sounding musical. His attention to text, dynamics, blend, and story telling makes him a huge asset to any creative team.”
Mara Newbury Greer
“One of the things I love about working with Ben is that he comes to the project so very prepared. His musical direction is clear and he really understands the relationship between Conductor and actor.”
Blake Hammond
“Ben is one of the best musical directors I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He has a beautiful balance of striving for excellence while maintaining a low pressure environment. I’ve never felt safer in a conductor’s hands; the way he can respond to the humanity of an actor while steadily leading the orchestra is unparalleled.”
Kristina Leopold
“Ben is an exceptional collaborator: Kind, smart, and fun. He brings a finely tuned musical taste and instinct, and is full of creative storytelling ideas that help create a truly cohesive feel in any musical he’s working on, all while making singers and musicians feel safe and supported. He’s also a top-notch arranger and orchestrator making him an asset to any theatrical production, concert or musical event.”
Ben Fankhauser
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ben twice, and each experience has been exceptional. He has a true gift for elevating the sound of a show while fostering a fun, focused, and professional room. His artistry, leadership, and musical instincts make him someone I deeply trust–I always feel taken care of when he is conducting!”
Kennedy Caughell
“Our musicians love working with Ben, and it’s easy to see why. He’s organized, efficient, and brings a collegial and encouraging presence to every rehearsal and concert. Ben is the kind of conductor who makes everyone in the room feel valued and prepared. As an arranger and orchestrator, Ben’s command of the material is exceptional; he understands how every part fits together and uses that knowledge to build arrangements that serve the music and the performers. He has a rare instinct for providing exactly the right musical foundation and support that allows a performer to feel comfortable, take risks, and truly shine. The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra is proud to count Ben among our most valued collaborators.”
Guy McIntosh
"My journey with Ben began in 2023, since then I have been lucky enough to work with him numerous times. I've learned his balance for efficiency and compassion knows no bounds. He is direct, but leads with kindness. I have learned so much about being a professional from him, as well as the value of being a genuine artist/person in this industry"
Camila V. Romero
“Ben has the magical gift of being an incredibly gifted musician, leader, collaborator and communicator with musicians and vocalists. He is a master of technique and style and does it all while being kind and approachable. I want to be in any room Ben is in charge of.”
Sara Sheperd
“Playing in a Ben McNaboe orchestra is always a pleasure, even more so when playing a meticulous McNaboe orchestration. He has the technical and musical ability to dial in intricate details and communicate clearly from the podium while maintaining a calm and kind demeanor, bringing out the best in the group even under pressure.”
Kate Umble
"Ben is a consummate Music Director. I am lucky to have worked alongside Ben on many projects. He has supreme skill, wisdom, and professionalism beyond his years, and he strikes that rare balance of commanding respect while being genuinely fun to collaborate with."
Sam Grossier
“Ben McNaboe is a musical genius. I have known Ben for nearly a decade as a music supervisor, music director, and musician contractor. I have collaborated with him as a dance arranger as well as on casting for several musicals. He owns every one of his platforms. His focus, attention to detail and musicality is unmatched. Anyone would be lucky to have Mr. McNaboe in a room, as a leader, and as a conductor on their show.”
Kenny Ingram
"My journey with Ben began in 2023, since then I have been lucky enough to work with him numerous times. I've learned his balance for efficiency and compassion knows no bounds. He is direct, but leads with kindness. I have learned so much about being a professional from him, as well as the value of being a genuine artist/person in this industry"
Camila V. Romero
“Ben has the magical gift of being an incredibly gifted musician, leader, collaborator and communicator with musicians and vocalists. He is a master of technique and style and does it all while being kind and approachable. I want to be in any room Ben is in charge of.”
Sara Sheperd
“Playing in a Ben McNaboe orchestra is always a pleasure, even more so when playing a meticulous McNaboe orchestration. He has the technical and musical ability to dial in intricate details and communicate clearly from the podium while maintaining a calm and kind demeanor, bringing out the best in the group even under pressure.”
Kate Umble
"Ben is a consummate Music Director. I am lucky to have worked alongside Ben on many projects. He has supreme skill, wisdom, and professionalism beyond his years, and he strikes that rare balance of commanding respect while being genuinely fun to collaborate with."
Sam Grossier
“Ben McNaboe is a musical genius. I have known Ben for nearly a decade as a music supervisor, music director, and musician contractor. I have collaborated with him as a dance arranger as well as on casting for several musicals. He owns every one of his platforms. His focus, attention to detail and musicality is unmatched. Anyone would be lucky to have Mr. McNaboe in a room, as a leader, and as a conductor on their show.”
Kenny IngramContact
…And yes,
You can catch him on socials too.
Copyright 2026 Ben McNaboe | Design by CR Designs
About
Ben
Ben McNaboe is a conductor, music supervisor, and arranger whose work spans musical theatre, symphonic performance, and chamber music settings. In his leadership from the podium and as a music department head he has developed a reputation for bringing both artistic rigor and genuine collaborative spirit to every room he works in.
A native of Maine, Ben is a proud graduate of The University of Maine School of Performing Arts where he studied under the mentorship of Grammy Award-winning conductor and composer Lucas Richman. That training instilled in him a foundational belief he still carries: that a conductor’s most important job is to serve the music, the audience, and the people making it together.
His career has been shaped as much by institution-building as by performance. For eight seasons, Ben served as Music Supervisor at Maine State Music Theatre, where he worked to strengthen the department’s infrastructure and artistic identity. He continues to return to MSMT each season as Personnel Manager and Musician Contractor — a reflection of the long-term professional relationships he tends to build wherever he works.
Ben is currently serving in his seventh season as Music Supervisor and Resident Conductor at The Fulton Theatre, a LORT B regional theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. During that time, he has overseen substantial growth in the music department — expanding the musician roster, raising the musician scale, and improving working conditions across the board. He manages a departmental budget of nearly half a million dollars annually and has conducted more than fifty productions on The Fulton stage, including Kinky Boots, Ragtime in Concert, Disney’s Frozen, and Elf. He contributes significantly to the casting process and is actively involved in community engagement, donor programming, and the cultivation of relationships with partner organizations — work he sees as central to what a music department can and should do within a regional theatre.
Outside of his institutional roles, Ben is regularly sought out as an arranger, orchestrator, and guest conductor. In this capacity, he has appeared with the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the Bangor Symphony, the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, Encore Orchestra NJ, and the Toledo Symphony. One engagement that holds particular meaning was his collaboration with the Bangor Symphony on milihtαkʷat, a multimovement suite for orchestra and chorus by Wabanaki composer Jason Brown (Firefly) — a project that connected his Maine roots to some of the most artistically significant work of his career. A fourth movement of that suite has since been commissioned for performance with the Portland Symphony Orchestra.
This spring and summer, Ben will serve as Music Director for Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of Leonard Bernstein’s masterpiece West Side Story. He also appears regularly as a guest and consultant at educational institutions and regional theatres across the country, contributing to a field he feels genuinely fortunate to work in.
Ben remains committed to the full breadth of this work — as a performer, a collaborator, and someone who cares deeply about the health of the institutions and communities that live musical theatre depends upon.
Testimonials
“Ben has been one of the best music directors I’ve ever worked with. He’s organized, creative, and a brilliant collaborator. He knows how to talk to both actors and musicians and is skilled at creating a cohesive and spectacular sounding musical. His attention to text, dynamics, blend, and story telling makes him a huge asset to any creative team.”
Mara Newbury Greer
“One of the things I love about working with Ben is that he comes to the project so very prepared. His musical direction is clear and he really understands the relationship between Conductor and actor.”
Blake Hammond
“Ben is one of the best musical directors I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He has a beautiful balance of striving for excellence while maintaining a low pressure environment. I’ve never felt safer in a conductor’s hands; the way he can respond to the humanity of an actor while steadily leading the orchestra is unparalleled.”
Kristina Leopold
“Ben is an exceptional collaborator: Kind, smart, and fun. He brings a finely tuned musical taste and instinct, and is full of creative storytelling ideas that help create a truly cohesive feel in any musical he’s working on, all while making singers and musicians feel safe and supported. He’s also a top-notch arranger and orchestrator making him an asset to any theatrical production, concert or musical event.”
Ben Fankhauser
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ben twice, and each experience has been exceptional. He has a true gift for elevating the sound of a show while fostering a fun, focused, and professional room. His artistry, leadership, and musical instincts make him someone I deeply trust–I always feel taken care of when he is conducting!”
Kennedy Caughell “Our musicians love working with Ben, and it’s easy to see why. He’s organized, efficient, and brings a collegial and encouraging presence to every rehearsal and concert. Ben is the kind of conductor who makes everyone in the room feel valued and prepared. As an arranger and orchestrator, Ben’s command of the material is exceptional; he understands how every part fits together and uses that knowledge to build arrangements that serve the music and the performers. He has a rare instinct for providing exactly the right musical foundation and support that allows a performer to feel comfortable, take risks, and truly shine. The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra is proud to count Ben among our most valued collaborators.”
Guy McIntosh
"My journey with Ben began in 2023, since then I have been lucky enough to work with him numerous times. I've learned his balance for efficiency and compassion knows no bounds. He is direct, but leads with kindness. I have learned so much about being a professional from him, as well as the value of being a genuine artist/person in this industry"
Camila V. Romero
“Ben has the magical gift of being an incredibly gifted musician, leader, collaborator and communicator with musicians and vocalists. He is a master of technique and style and does it all while being kind and approachable. I want to be in any room Ben is in charge of.”
Sara Sheperd
“Playing in a Ben McNaboe orchestra is always a pleasure, even more so when playing a meticulous McNaboe orchestration. He has the technical and musical ability to dial in intricate details and communicate clearly from the podium while maintaining a calm and kind demeanor, bringing out the best in the group even under pressure.”
Kate Umble
"Ben is a consummate Music Director. I am lucky to have worked alongside Ben on many projects. He has supreme skill, wisdom, and professionalism beyond his years, and he strikes that rare balance of commanding respect while being genuinely fun to collaborate with."
Sam Grossier
“Ben McNaboe is a musical genius. I have known Ben for nearly a decade as a music supervisor, music director, and musician contractor. I have collaborated with him as a dance arranger as well as on casting for several musicals. He owns every one of his platforms. His focus, attention to detail and musicality is unmatched. Anyone would be lucky to have Mr. McNaboe in a room, as a leader, and as a conductor on their show.”
Kenny IngramContact
…And yes, you can catch him on socials too.
Copyright 2026 Ben McNaboe | Design by CR Designs
“Ben has been one of the best music directors I’ve ever worked with. He’s organized, creative, and a brilliant collaborator. He knows how to talk to both actors and musicians and is skilled at creating a cohesive and spectacular sounding musical. His attention to text, dynamics, blend, and story telling makes him a huge asset to any creative team.”
Mara Newbury Greer Director & Choreographer